Blanking and transferring mechanism for box-making machines



Aug. 28, 1928. 1,681,928

o. w. COWGILL BLANKING AND TRANSFERRING MECHANISM FOR BOX MAKING MACHINES Original Filed 19, 1923 Sheets-Sheet 11 Zi /7'. A Kane/u. & M

Aug. 28, 1928. 1,681,928

0. W. COWGILL BLANKING AND TRANSFERRING MECHANISM FOR BOX MAKING MACHINES Original Filed 19, 1923 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 28, 1928. v 1;68l,928

O. W. COWGILL BLANKING -AND TRANSFERRING MECHANISM FOR BOX MAKING MACHINES Original Filed 19, 1925 v Sheets-Sheet 3 Fit. 3

O. COWGILL BLANKING AND TRENSFERRING MECHANISM FOR BOX MA'KING MACHINES '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed m. 19, 1925 2 Z r. f 0

Aug. 28, 1928. 1,681,928

- o. w. COWGILL 'BLANKING AND TRANSFERRING MECHANISM FORBOX MAKING MACHINES Original Filed 19, 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Z 77 (5 Wm M 47 /2 429s.

Aug. 28, 192.8. 1,681,928

0. w.- COWGILL BLANKING AND TRANSFERRING MECHANISM FOR BOX MAKING MACHINES Original Filed 19, 1923 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Aug. 28, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF ICE.

on-rn w. GOWGILL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, assrenon TO ST. L UI LABEL WORKS, or ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

BLANKING ANDTRANSFERRING MECHANIDI FOR--BOX-MAKING MACHINES.

Original application filed January 19., Serial No. (15.;G32'. Divided.- and this application filed August 10, 1925.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in box making machines, and

is a divisional application of an application The Objects of the present invention are toprovidea blank cutting and scoring 1nechanism which is accurate and positive in operation, can be operated in correlation with other mechanism with which it is associated and isself-cleaning' to prevent accumulation of waste material therein.

Further objects of the invention are to combine a. blank-cutting and scoring mechanism with a blank folding mechanism whereby the blank is automatically transferred to the fold- I ing mechanism, and to provide means for automatically feeding said blank from the cutting and scoring mechanism to said folding mechanism, thus greatly increasing the output of the machines of the class described.

Vith these and other objects in view, my 3 invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- I Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine. N 7

Figure 2 is a plan view of the forwardpor tion of the machine- Figure 3 is an end view, partly broken away. of the forward end of the machine.

Figure 4 is a fragmental cross-section taken longitudinally through the forward end of the machine.

Figure 5 is a detail view of the die or underside. of, hlanliitransferring means.-

) blanking mechanism and parts associated Serial No. 49,418.

Figure 14; is a detail view showing operative connections for the material mechanism.

Figure 15 is a plan view of the blank. Figure 16 is a perspective view of the box.

feeding Figure 17 is a detaiLsectional view taken vertically through the movable die'member and showing the valve means for controlling the discharge of compressed air.

The invention contemplates a machine in which the strip of material is fed to a die which cuts out and scores a blank, which blank is then transferred to a folding mechanism wherein the blank is folded into the proper shape and a finishing or binding'band is ap plied to the Side walls ofthe'box. Generally speaking, the machine consists of four sections, viz, the material support'inga-nd feeding section 10, the strip positioning section 1 1, the blank cutting section 12, and the blank folding and band applying section 13.

The material supporting and feeding section 10 comprises frames 14, which support a table 15, the latter sloping rearwardly to-v ward the strip positioning section 11. Projecting upwardly fromthis table isa wall 16 preferably formed of upwardly extending slats which are spaced from each other and are'support-ed on a suitable framework se-' cured to frames 14.

The machine is actuated by an electric motor (not shown) throughthe medium of a:

belt 17 which passes over a-pulley IS'fiXed to shaft 19. This shaft isjournaled in suitable bearings carried by the lower portion of frame 14. A shaft 20 is journ'aled'inthe forward end of frame 1i and carries'a' pulley 21 in which is arranged a clutch 22, whereby pulley 21' maybe engaged'or' disengaged'from shaft 20. A pulley 25 is fiXQCl'tOShflft 19 and passing over this pulley and driving pulley 21 is a belt- 2 1. Clutch 22iscontrolled by a handle 26' arranged in the front end of the machine and a" handle 26 projecting rearwardlytoward the blank feeding mechanism 1:11, thus enabling. the operator to eontrol tlm ating over these wheels and driving shaft 28 is a sprocket chain. 31. a

The rear or inner end of shaft 28 terminates below the blanking mechanism 12 and 1 Shelf has fixed thereon a crank arm 32'to which is pivotally. connected the lower end of an adjustable connecting rod 33, the upper end of which is pivotally mounted in the lower end of a casting 34-. A stationary die member 35 is supported on theforward end of frame 14 above the casting 3% and wardly from'this casting and pas'singthrough said stationary member 35 are posts 36, the upper ends of which carry a movable die member 37, which is designed to cooperate with the stationary member 35 and is oper ated from shaft 28 through the connections just described. I

The strip positioning section 11 consists of a shelf 38 which extends outwardly and rear- Wardly from table 15, and on the same horizontal plane with the'stationary member This shelf 38 consists of a horizontally disposed portion 38 and supports or rails 38". Movably mounted in the forward end of this shelf is a reciprocating carriage 39. This carriage is operated from shaft 28 through the medium of an arm 4-0 loosely mounted on said shaft and having a roller 11 operating in the came race of a. cam 42, which is fixed to shaft 28. The upper end of arm 40 is adjustably secured to the slotted end of arm 13 by suitable fastening means 43 and imparts a rocking motion to a shaft 44. This shaft is journaled in suitable bearings projecting inwardly from the forward end frame 14, and has fixed thereon an upwardly extending arm 45, the upper end of which is pivotally connected to the free end of a link 16, which latter is carried by a'rod 47. (See Fig. 14.) This rod is transversely arranged in the forward end of carriage 39 and has its ends fixed in arms 48, which latter are pivotally mounted on the inner sides of carriage frame 49. Frame 49 has laterally projecting rollers which operate in suitable raceways formed in the inner sides of shelf 38 and downwardly presented rollers which hold the carriage in proper-alignment. 38 is designed to receive the strip of material and carriage 39 is arranged to feed it intermittently toward the blank cutting mechanism 12.

Where the material is supplied in the form of. a Series of strips, thcstrips-are stacked on table 15 in parallel with shelf 38. and suitable means is provided for moving the lowermost strip laterally from the stack onto the shelf.

push it from under the stark projecting up- The means for positioning the strips on the shelf consists of a series of bars 50 operating in slots 51 formed transversely in table 15. (See Figures'2 and 4.) Each of these bars has a shoulder 50" formed thereon which extends upwardly beyond the upper surface of table 15 a substantial distance to engage during the rearward movement of -aid bars the forward edge of the lowermost strip and of remair ng strips onto the shelf 38. The lower end slats 16 terminate above table 15 a proper distance to provide clearance for the passage of single strips. Bars 50 are supported by rollers 53 which operate in tracks formed in the sides of transverse 'i'nembers of frame 14. These bars are operated by means of arms 5% with which they are connected by links 55 and said arms are fixed to ashaft -56 longitudinally mounted in frame 14 below table 15. This shaft is designed to be actuated when the strip located on shelf 38 reaches a predeterminedposition thereon in its forward movement toward the blanking mechanism 12. The strip positioning bars 50 and shaft 56 are set in operation by a finger 57 w iich is actuated by suitable mechanism fully described and illustrated in mv Patent No.

1,551,189, issued August 25,1925.

The strip is fed forward to the blanking mechanisn'i 12 during the forward movement of the carriage 39 and during the retrograde or rearward movement of the carriage the strip is held stationary by a spring pressed presser foot 98 pivotally mounted above the forward end of the extension 95 and arran ed so as to allow'the forward movement of the strip and hold'said strip stationary against the fixed exension 95 while the carriage is being restored to its normal position.

In order to accurately hold the strip while it is being fed forwardly and particularly the short last portion thereof, the extreme forward end of the carriage is provided with strip gripping elements 99 pivctally mounted on the forward ends of the side frames of the carriage. i

The blanking and scoring mechanism 12 (see Figures 3 to 6) consists of a stationary die member 35 which is secured to and projects forwardly from the forward end of frame 1 1 and a movable die or punch member 37 located above and adapted to be moved into cooperative relation with member '35 when casting 34: is actuated, said movable die member being connected to said casting by posts 36.

Yieldingly mounted in movable die mem ber 37 and projecting downwardly from its face are pins 105 which are designed to en-- gage the blank while die member 37 is being moved. upwardly. Thus the blank is held im movable and retains its proper position until engaged by the transferring mechanism here i .after more. fully described.

The-scoring is done by scoring knives 106, 'XVlllCllzSCQIGclIhG, blank B (Figure 15) along the dotted lines iC-so thatthe marginal portions D may-be folded to form the side and end wallsot' thebox (Figure16). After the blank is cut,:part ot the waste material or scrap falls into a'trough 107 located rear- --wardlyo1 and below the stationary die member-35and: the scrap is then discharged there :from by a plunger 108'which-traverses said trough and is itltjtlliltQCl by-a'bell crank 10,9

to-whicli said plunger is connected by a short link110. :The bell. crank is pivotally mounted ontramelt and receives its motion from casting 3 1 to which it *is connected by a long link 111. p

The blank is preferably cut on all sides at each operation in order to provide an accurate blank, thereby insuring the production of boxes-which are-identical in size and shape. The forward andv side portions of the waste material are removed from the die by cooperating fingers 112 and 11 1-. Finger 112 is termed :on the upper end 01 a rock arm 113 which is pivotallymounted on a bracket 115 depending from stationary die member This arm has a short downward extension 116 carryingrrollerll'? which operates in a track 118 formed:- in aimember1119 projecting torwaridly from casting 134:. "Finger 11st pivotally mounted at 120 on arm 113, and has a dependingportion 121 which, when arm 113 is moved toward the die, isengaged by avpin .122 projecting from the stationary member 35. therebv causin -said fin er to be moved I u b 13 toward finger 112 and engage the scrap material.

When rock arm 113 is moved in an opposite direction, oraway from the die, the depending portioir'lll just betore the completion 01 themoveinent or said; rock arm, is engaged by a stationary arm 121 carried by the frame of theimachine, and movable linger 114 thereby disengaged "from linger 112, so that the scrap material is released and discharged onto the floor or into a suitable receptacle. The extreme end of the depending portion 121 i V-shaped and is yieldingly. engaged by the V-sh aped end ofaspring pressed member 123 which imparts snap action to the movable finger 11 1.

Extending into the movable die member 37 is a discharge pipe 125 having suitable discharge opening 125 formed therein which are adapted tone brought into regis er .u 1 a valve opening 37 the latter being formed in said movable oie member and terminating in adischarge opening 3'T presented;against the stationary die member '35 as shown in Figure 17. The valve opening 37 is so dis posed that compressed airmay bedischarged through said movable member ontothe stationary member after each blanking and scoring operation to remove small particles of material therefrom, and thus keep the die members free and in proper working C0111 .rearwardly ot the blanking n :is movable relatively thereto into blank of shaft 132 as to bring cam 116 into engagement with roller pressing spring 151 ion. sed air is supplied to the cispc 125 from a suitable air reservoir by means ota pipe 126.

1 The transferring mechanism is 'desi ed to take the blank i i-om the stationary die member after it has been cut and scored and deposit it,auton'iatically in proper position in the folding mechanism 13 (Figs? to 12). This transferring mechanism coils sts of two horizontally dispo'-'ed blades. One of said blades has a sleeve 131 by means of which it fixed to the upper on of a rotating shaft 132 iournaled in suitable bearin 'loiwardly and iechanisi the other blade 131 is pivotally mounted by a pin 135 on sleeve 131 below blade 130 and gaging and disengaging positions. l llade ha :1 depending tubular portion 136 which I has a telescopic engagement with a. tubular portion 137, the lower end of which terminates-in a downwardly presented-V-shapet portion An upwardly V-shaped portion 139 is formed on member 1 10 and is adapted to have cooperative engagement with V- shaped portion 138. Member 1&0 is suspended by links 141 from the opposite sides of a pair of parallel ribs "formed on the undersi of a disk 1-12, which latter is lined to the lower end of sleeve 131.

Depending "from member 110 is a roller 1 13 which is adapted to be engaged by a cam 11-: carried by diskllf) and cam projection 1% formed on and projecting upwardl from an arcuate plate 117. -Disk 1 1-5 is ad, tably cured by screws'1 l8 to a station: poi of die member and by loosening aid s said disk can be adjusted about the axis oi 1 13 is actuated thereby at the desire i and blade 131 is moved into blank dgaging position.

Plate 1 17. is also adjustable about the a'i 1 x .1 1.7 11-3 at inc (its ment whereby blade is moved tow blade 130 and e i the blank. Springs 150 are connected to member 110 and, tend to move the latter inwardly and a spring 151 interposed between tubular telescopic portions 136 and 13? and holds portion 138 in yielding eugagen'icnt with portion 139.

As the shaft 13; rotates, roller 1 13 rides upon cam 11% and is thereby forced outward- 1y, causing member to swing outwardly on its link supports so that portion 139 in passing over the outwardly presented portion 138 forces tubular portion 137 upwardly comr-rs soon as V-shapcd portions and pass each other, tubular portion 137n1oves downwarely and causes blade 13. to roe; on pivot 135 and move down wardly to occupy the blank releasing 110911.101], as shown in l? lgure 9.

and l I the interengaging V-shaped portions 138 and 10 139 imparting snap action to blade 134 and maintaining said blade under tension so that the blank is securely gripped between said blades while being transferred from the die to the folding mechanism.

In order to enable blade 134 to be positioned under-the blank, while the same is resting on die member 35, a series of yielding members 154 are arranged in said die and project upwardly from the face thereof through suitable openings formod therein, and hold the blank elevated a slight distance above the face of die member 35. Members 154 are yieldingly held in their raised positions by springs 155 which are located in suitable recesses formed in the body portion of die member 35 and have their ends bearingagainst the lower ends of members 154. Said members 154 cooperate with pins 105 yieldingly mounted in movable member 37 and the pressure exerted by springs on pins 105 is less than the pressure of springs 155 so that members 154 are not forced downwardly by pins 105. Pins 105 exert gripping pressure against members 154 until the nippers 130 and 134 have closed on the blank, thereby preventing accidental displacement of the latter and preserving accurate relation of the blank with the transferring and forming mechanisms, until the punch or movable die member 37 has been moved upwardly a desired distance.

Shaft 132 extends downwardly below casting 34 and has mounted on its lower end, a bevel gear 156 which meshes with a bevel gear 156 carried by a horizontally disposed shaft 157. his shaft is mounted in suitable bear ings on the forward end frame 14 and is provided with a gear 158 which is in driving ongagen'ient with a gear 159 fixed to shaft 28. Thus, blank gripping blades 130 and 134 are operatedsimultaneously and in proper time relation with the strip positioning means and the blanking mechanism. The blank folding and band applying section 13 is supported by horizontally disposed frame members 160 and 161 which are carried by vertically disposed posts 162, a vertically disposed shaft 164 has its ends journaled in said frame members and is operated by suitable gear 167 which is driven by a pinion 168 fixed to shaft 132 above bevel gear 156. A spider frame 169 is fixed to shaft 164 and is provided with radially projecting arms carrying blank operating portions 170. hen the blank is formed a band 10 is applied thereto. This is supplied in. the form of a roll such as indicated at 305 which is located in a suitable position on the frame of the machine. The band is passed from said roll on a glue roller 306 which is journaled on a glue pot 307 and has its lower portion immersed in the glue contained therein so that the outer periphery of said roller is coated with glue.

In passing over this roller the reverse side of the band engages the periphery thereof and receives a coating of glue. The band is then passed under a roller 308 with the glue side presented outwardly and is then passed over a roller 309 carried by a vertically disposed standard 312. The band then passes over a roller (not shown) arranged above roller 309 and is then passed over a roller 316 which latter is arranged above the band roller 305. From roller 316 the band is passed over a vertically disposed roller 317 and the band in passing over this roller makes a onequarter twist so that instead of being disposed horizontally as heretofore is arranged in vertical plane and passes-over'a vertically disposed roller 313 which is mounted on the free end of an arm 319. The band then passes over a small roller-320 and is then carried towards the blanking section 13 and has its end engaged by theband applying mechanism not shown in the present application but fully described and illustrated in my aforementioned patent.

In the operation of the machine, the material from which the boxes are made is supplied to shelf 38 either in the shape of strips, which are stacked on the table 15 and singly positioned on said shelf, or in the form of a roll suitably supported and fed onto said shelf. This material is then intermittently fed forward to the blanking and scoring mechanism 12 by the reciprocating carriage 39. After the blank is cut and scored, some of the waste material falls into the trough 107 and is removed therefrom by plunger 108 while other wastematerial is. automatically removed by fingers 112 and 114.

The stroke of the movable die member can be varied by adjusting the connecting rod 33 in order to regulate the depth of the score lines. The blank at the proper time is engaged by revolving blades 130 and 134 and carried by them toward the blank folding mechanism 13 and deposited in a horizontal position on one of the forming sections. The operation of the forming section is so timed relative to the blanking operation as to place one of the forming sections in position to receive the blank from said transferring blades at the proper time.

In folding the blank, the same is held stationary relative to the forming section, and the forming section on which the blank is arranged and the blank are moved continuously in a circle concentric with shaft 164 until the blank is formed into a box and disthe Thus, 12- be seen that there is' no time lost in' operating upon the blank and the machine can be steadily operated without stopping to re ceiveeach blank, as the blank transferring mechanism is automatically operated in cooperation with the blank tolding mechanism.

I claim: I V 1v In a box making machine, the combination of a die for simultaneously cutting and scoring complete blanks troin a strip of material, said die including a stationary and a movable member. means tor automatically removing the blank 'fronrsaid die, a compr ssed air supply pipe extending into said die member, and a valve opening in said mov- I able die member and adapted to communicate with said .pipe, said valve opening being adapted to be brought into register withsa id pipe in a predeterminedrelation with the movement of said movable die member for discharging compressed air onto said die,

2. In a box ma ring. machine, a stationary die member adapted to receive a stripo t' ma: terial, a movable die member cooperatim with :said stationary member forcutting and scoring a blank from said strip, yielding means cooperatingfwi th said movable die member for holding said blank immovable preparatory to the removal thereof, and means for discharging compressed air onto said stationary die member after each blankin g operation. 3. A blank cutting mechanism for box making machines comprising a stationary die member, a punch member mounted above and cooperating therewith, and means yieldingly mounted in said stationary die member for yieldingly supporting the material at a plurality of points above the face of and in spaced relation with said stationary die member.

4. In a blank cutting mechanism for box making machines, the combination with a stationary die member, a punch member movable relative thereto, means for yieldingly supporting the blank material in spaced relation with said die member, means cooperating with said punch member for engaging and maintaining said blank material in position on said stationary die member.

5. In a blank cuttng mechanism for box making machines, the combination of a stationary die, a punch member movable relative thereto, and means cooperating with said punch member for discharging air under pressure against said die members to keep the latter tree from scraps.

6. In a blank cutting and scoring mechanism for box making machines, the combination of a stationary die member, a punch member movable relative thereto, means for discharging air under pressure against said die members, and a valve cooperating with said movable punch member for controlling said air discharging means.

7. A blank cutting and scoring mechanism for box making machines, comprising in combination a stationary die member, a movable die member cooperating therewith, and n pair of cooperating grippers mounted for oscillatory movement and operable by the movement of said movable die member for removing the scrap material from said die members.- p

8. In a blank cutting and scoring mechanism tor 'box' making machines, the combinationwith a stationary die membermdaptedto receive the blank mater-iah'and a punch member c'ooperating therewith, ot' a pair of fingers, one of which is movable relative to the other, means for positioning said fingers with respect to said stationary die member, and means for actuating said movable finger "to engage these-rap material and remove it from said stationary die. 7

9. In a blank cutting a d scoring mechanism for box making machines, the combination with the stationa ry' die member adapted to receive the blank material, and a punch member cooperating therewith, of! a pair of fin-ge'rson'e of which is m'ov'able relative 'to the other, means l -or positioning said fingers with respect to said stationary die member, means for actuating said movable finger to engage the scrap material and remove it from said stationary die, and means for imparting snap action to said movable finger.

10. In a blanking mechanism, the combination with a movable blanking member, of a pair of material gripping elements, one of which is mounted for oscillatory movement and is provided with a projection operable by said movable member, and the other element is pivotally carried by said first element and is movable relative to said first element into material engaging and discharging positions, said gripper elements being capable when in engaging position to grip a portion of the waste material and discharge said material when in moved position.

11. In a blanking mechanism, the combination with a movable blanking member, of a. pair of material gripping elements for removing waste material from said mechanism, said gripping elements comprising one element pivotally mounted for oscillatory movement and provided at one end with a projection operable by said movable member, the other element being pivotally mounted on the opposite end of said first element and movable into engagement therewith to engage waste material and remove it from said blanketing member.

12. In a blanking mechanism, the combinationwith a movable blanking member, of a pair of waste material gripping elements, one of said elements having a fixed fulcrum and being mounted for oscillatory movement and the other element being pivotally mounted on the first element and operable into engaging and disengaging relation With said first element, means for positioning said gripping elements in correlation with said movable blanking member, and stationary means engageable by said second element for opening and closing said gripping elements.

13.v In a blanking mechanism, the combina-v tion with a movable blanking member, of a pair of Waste material gripping elements, one ofsaid elements'being s'tationarily mounted for oscillatory movement and the other element being fulorumed on the first element, snap action mechanism on said first element and engaging said second element for imparting thereto quick movement, means said first element in correlation with said movable. blanking member, a pair of spaced members engageable by said second element for positioning the latter into opening and closing relation With saidfirst element, and actuating connections for operating said means in time relation with said movable for pos tioning member.

14. In a blanking mechanism, the combination with the driving mechanism thereof, of a pairof blades disposed in a horizontal plane stationary.

in superposed spacedrelation With each other and operable in a horizontal plane to engage a blank and remove it from said blanking mechanism, said blades being conjointly operable and rotatable about a vertical axis by said driving mechanism.

15. The combination With a blanking mechanism, of a pair of cooperating blades disposed in a horizontal plane in superposed spaced relation With each other and adapted to engage a blank and remove it from said blanking mechanism, one of said blades being fixed and the other blade being mounted and operable relative blade, tripping mechanism for positioning said pivotal blade, saidtripping mechanism including a depending roller, means engage able by said roller for actuating said tripping mechanism," driving connections for said blanking mechanism, and means operable by said driving connections 'for actuating said blades and said tripping mechanism around a vertical axis in time relation with said blanking mechanism.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature this 6th day of August, 1925.

ORPH W. COWGILL.

pivotally to said first 

